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May 22, 2014 | 01:12

Brazil strike chaos

May 22 - Strikes by police and bus drivers add to Brazil's woes just weeks from the start of the World Cup. Paul Chapman reports.

TRANSCRIPT +

PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
Brazil's already seen a wave of protests in the run-up to next month's World Cup...now it's suffering crippling strikes.
Bus drivers and fare collectors in Sao Paulo walked out for a second day on Wednesday throwing the city into chaos.
Vehicles were abandoned on major roads and 15 major bus terminals were shut down.
The workers are unhappy about a pay rise that's been approved by their own union.
Local authorities estimated about 230, 000 commuters were affected by the strike.
It wasn't the nation's only industrial headache.
On the same same day civil police in several areas including the capital, Brasilia, also went on strike.
They're demanding better pay and conditions and new safety measures.
(SOUNDBITE)(Portuguese0 FLAVIO WERNECK MENGUELLI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL POLICE UNION, SAYING:
"We deserve - Brazil and all Brazilians deserve - public safety. With or without the World Cup we don't have this kind of expertise in public safety."
The first match of the World Cup in Sao Paolo is due to kick off on June 12th.
The strikes at such a time again raise questions about Brazil's ability to pull off one of the world's largest sporting events.

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